The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-08
THE OPIUM HABIT.
Convictions Reached by an Experienced
Physician OF New York.

the opium habit is sane. do not mean
to say that when person begins to use
the drug he is out of his mind, but
after he has become addicted to the
use of it; in other words. when he has
become chronic opium-eater, ] con-
slider him insane. have had consider
able experience with opium-eaters, and,
as rule, do not like to have them in
an insane asylum.
There is now patient in this institu-
ton who came here seven months ago.
His friends do not consider him out cf
his mind, but l consider him an insane
man. l am of the opinion that he is
unaccountable for what he does, and
think he is unfit to transact his own
business or the business of any one else.
Seven months ago he was taking ten
grains of Opium day. He is now
down to two grains day and doing
well. think it was through the power
of his own will that he has reached his
present improved condition, and not
on account of any medical skill on my
part.
In curing the habit would show the
habitue his usual dose of opium, and
let him take it. but day by day would
reduce the fluid with water, but always
give him the same sized dose. A per-
son who has been addicted to the opium
habit for fourteen or fifteen months is
regarded as chronic case. Three
grains of opium daily is a large dose,
but ten grains is enormous.
The effect of the drug on chronic
opium-eater is merely quoting; he is in
a state of half drunkenness, whether he
takes large or small doses. But, in an
acute case, the effects of the drug are
very pleasant indeed The victim sees
visions of loveliness and grandeur i'm
possible to describe, and catches
glimpses of heavenly state of exist
ence. When he has become a chronic
user of the drug, and his system de-
mands it, he, to certain extent, ceases
to have these visions and rapturous
dreams unless he takes unusually heavy
. doses-enough to produce immediate
sleep. Under such conditions he will
! usually have pleasant dreams though
sometimes he passes through horrible
, scenes of torture.
The effect of the drug on the physique
of person varies somewhat. Some
times he will become dreadfully ema-
. ciated, but if the appetite keeps good
2 he will not decrease in weight. There
! is always, however, peculiar color
about an opium-eater's face, and by
that he can be known; the complexion
, assumes the color of old brass, having
5 peculiar death-like hue. but it is sell
! dom that the digestion is impaired.
Y Opium affects the spinal cord and the
0 brain principally. The nerve power of
; the opium-eater is very much iessened
/. without the opium, and it is very much
: increased with the drug until the end
S comes. The death of the opium-eater is
: not marked by any particular scenes OF
e horror. | have seen several opium
/ eaters die very pleasant death, and
@ do not know that ever saw very bad
+ death among such patients.
+ The causes which lead persons into
= the opium habit are so numerous that
f no one would attempt to define all of
f them. The habit is often brought on in
0 young medical students who resort to
n the stimulant through overstraining
!. themselves in study. The troubles
i brought about in the rush of business
A account for others using the drug. Ex-
/ cessive quor-drinking sometimes leads
q to the habit.
: l am now attending prominent cit
izen of New York City, man of wealth,
who has been a very heavy drinker.
He resorted to drink to drown his sor-
row over the death of beautiful Gaugh-
ter. l took him for the opium habit.
He took choral and morphine COM
e bned. He would take enough choral
g and morphine in day to kill fifteen
t men. reduced his allowance to al
e most nothing. He got so that he took
: very small dose every day, but in u
3 short time he relapsed into his old
e habits, became as bad as he ever was,
5 and the consequence is he will soon die.
Y There are three methods by which
3, the drug is taken, viz, internally, u
e hypodermic injection, and by absorb
a ton, that is by rubbing the drug on
It the skin. My experience is that about
: one-third of the number of opium-caters
!, take it in paregoric form, while two
d thirds take it in the gum. Very few
d people take tincture of opium. Taking
d the drug by means of a pill is a favor
n tie method. 1t can be kept more Sc
: cretly about the person in that form
y than in any other. Paregoric has to
r be carried in bottle, and it has II
y strong smell very similar to anise-seed.
e The smell is quickly noticed, while, if
d person chews opium, you have to get
Il very close to him to smell it. N.
Il Carpenter, in Epoch
: a Rifle With Steel Bullets.